Joseph clapp



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. GLAPP. AUTOMATIC VALVE.

No. 459,198. Patented Sept. 8, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH OLAPP, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONEIIALF TO VILLIAM E. LOIVE, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y. I

AUTOMATIC VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,198, dated September 8, 1891.

Application tiled February 19. 1891. Serial No. 332,017. (No model.)

To (//ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be itknown that I, JOSEPH CLAPP,ofEva1iston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Valves, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact dcscription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ol this specification, in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional View of my improved valve connected with the usual induction and eduetion pipes and showing the operative parts in their respective normal positions. Fig. 2 is a like view showing said parts in abnormal positions. Fig. 3 is aplan view of the outlct-valve, and Fig. .tis a sectional View thereof taken upon the line m a, Fig.

Corresponding' letters of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable, and effective automatic valve for fire-extinguishing purposes, to be used more particularly in connection with what is commonly known `as the dry-pipe system.

To this end my invention consists in providing a perforated or notched piston in conn'ection with a piston-chamber separated from the service-pipe by means of said piston, a valve in operative connection with said piston and having a lesser area than the latter, and means for allowing the escape of water from the piston-chamber upon the release of air from the distributing-pipes, all of which is hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, a represents the main shell of my improved valve, from which is extended an elbow l), provided with a flange ZJ', which is bolted to a corresponding flange c upon a service-pipe c. A neck a', of a lesser diameter than the main shell, is formed upon t-he latter, said neck being provided with a tlange a2, by which it is bolted to an elbow d, which is in turn attached in like manner to the main distributingpipe e. lVithin the neck a is tapped a tube f, within which is formed a spider f', havingahub f2,wl1ich is centrally bored for the reception of a valvestem g, which serves the combined purpose of valve-stem and pistonnod.

Rigidly attached to said valve-stem is a valve 71., provided upon its face with a suitable packing zf, adapted to tit the face otl the ring f, which forms a valve-seat. The stein g is enlarged at the back of the valve 71` and extended to connect with a piston i', loosely fitted within a cylinder, as shown, extending laterally from the the main shell. A cylinder-head a is bolted to the end of the cylinder and is centrally bored for the reception of a screwj, which is tapped therein for the purpose hereinafter stated. The piston z is preferably provided with a small perforation 'i' to permit the water to pass slowly from the main chamber k to what I term the cylinder-chamber 7s. This opening is closed when the piston is in au abnormal position by means of a projection i?, of rubber, leather, or other suitable material, attached to the cylinder-head. In lieu of the perforation t" one or more notches may be formed in the peripheryof the piston.

lommuuicating with the neck 'a' of the valve is a tube I, which is directly connected with a dialihragm-valve m, the projecting stem m of which serves as afulcrum foralever n, the short end of which is loosely attached to a lug m2. An adjustable weight n enables the pressure upon the diaphragm to be regulated.

Vithin an opening o in the cylinder-head as is inserted a tube o', which is held normally closed by means of a two-way valve p, the plug p of which (better shown iu Figs. 3 and l) is provided with an arm p2, which is loosely connected by means of a rod q to the free end of the lever n. An openingpS, Fig. 4, in the plug p serves to open the valve when the lever is depressed and the arm p2 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 aud indicated in dotted lines in Fig. t.

rlhe operation of my improved valve is as lfollows: The distributing-pipes being filled with compressed air, the diaphragm-valve m is inflated, the lever n raised to the position shown in Fig. l, thereby closing the valve p. The valve 7L is placed against its seat and held primarily against the piston by means of the set-screw 1j, which is pressed firmly againstthe piston. As soon as a suiiicient amount ot water shall have passed through the opening if to fill the chamber k', the screw ably much less than that of the water, the

valve remains securely closed and is not liable to be in any Way'afected by water-hammer or otherwise. Upon the escape of air from the distributing-pipes upon the opening of a sprinkler-head the valve/fn collapses, the weight n falls, the valve p is opened, the

nWater escapes fromY the chamber 7o much more rapidly than it is permitted to enter through the opening i', and the pressure against the piston t' being as much greater than that upon the valve h as the area of the one exceeds that of the other the valve h is caused to open against the water-pressure, and the water is allowed to flow to the distributing-pipes.

The advantages of my improved device are that it is simple and cheap in construction, it cannot be displaced by water-hammer, and it is not liable to leak, for the reason that it is the more securely closed as the water-pressure increases, and its action is positive and certain. Moreover, the position of the level' n serves to indicate whether or not the valve is open or closed.

I am aware that it is not new inahydraulic elevator to secure to a common stem a valve and a piston of greater area than the valve and to move the Valve in one direction by the pressure of fluid upon its back, the piston being balanced, and in the other direction by pressure of the iiuid upon one side of the piston, the pressure upon the other side having been removed.`

Having thus described my invention I claiml. In an automatic valve, the combination, with a cylinder communicating directly with the service-pipe, an opening at one end of smaller diameter than the cylinder, a valve for normally closing the same arranged to open against the Water-pressure, a piston g mounted upon the same rod or stem with the valve and arranged to normally separate the cylinder into two compartments, one communicating directly with the service-pipe and the other separated therefrom by said piston, anopening in the piston, a valve communieating with the secondarychamber, and means for opening` said valve upon the escape of an' from the distributing-pipe, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in an automatic valve, of a piston and a valve of differential area mounted upon the same stein, the latter being arranged to close with the water-pressure, a service-pipe connection between said piston and valve, a chamber back of said piston into which the piston may recede, means for a limited water communication between said chamber and the space between said piston and valve, and means for automatically releasing` the water from behind said piston, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses,tl1is 1st day of December, 1890.

JOSEPH CLAPP. 

